Chapter 4 Mrs. Harding Takes A Boarder

 Jack¹ started for the newspaper offices and bought a supply of papers.

 

"I don't see why I can't sell papers as well as other boys," he said to himself. "I'm going to try, at any rate."

 

He thought it prudent², however, not to buy too large stock at first. He might sell them all, but then again he might get "stuck" on a part, and this might take away all his profits.

 

Jack, however, was destined³ to find that in the newspaper business, as well as in others, there was no lack of competition. He took his place just below the Astor House, and began to cry his papers. This aroused the ire of a rival newsboy a few feet away.

 

"Get away from here!" he exclaimed, scowling⁴ at Jack.

 

"What for?" said Jack.

 

"This is my stand."

 

"Keep it, then. This is mine," retorted Jack, composedly.

 

"I don't allow no other newsboys in this block," said the other.

 

"Don't you? You ain't the city government, are you?"

 

"I don't want any of your impudence⁵. Clear out!"

 

"Clear out yourself!"

 

"I'll give you a lickin'!"

 

"Perhaps you will when you're able."

 

Jack spoke⁶ manfully; but the fact was that the other boy probably was able, being three years older, and as many inches taller.

 

Jack kept on crying his papers, and his opponent, incensed⁷ at the contemptuous disregard of his threats, advanced toward him, and, taking Jack unawares, pushed him off the sidewalk with such violence that he nearly fell flat. Jack felt that the time for action had arrived. He dropped his papers temporarily on the sidewalk, and, lowering his head, butted⁸ against his young enemy with such force as to double him up, and seat him, gasping⁹ for breath, on the sidewalk. Tom Rafferty, for this was his name, looked up in astonishment¹⁰ at the unexpected form of the attack.

 

"Well done, my lad!" said a hearty¹¹ voice.

 

Jack turned toward the speaker, and saw a stout¹² man dressed in a blue coat with brass¹³ buttons. He was dark and bronzed with exposure to the weather, and there was something about him which plainly indicated the sailor.

 

"Well done, my lad!" he repeated. "You know how to pay off your debts."

 

"I try to," said Jack, modestly. "But where's my papers?"

 

The papers, which he had dropped, had disappeared. One of the boys who had seen the fracas¹⁴ had seized the opportunity to make off with them, and poor Jack was in the position of a merchant who had lost his stock in trade.

 

"Who took them papers?" he asked, looking about him.

 

"I saw a boy run off with them," said a bystander.

 

"I'm glad of it," said Tom Rafferty, sullenly¹⁵.

 

Jack looked as if he was ready to pitch into him again, but the sailor interfered¹⁶.

 

"Don't mind the papers, my lad. What were they worth?"

 

"I gave twenty cents for 'em."

 

"Then here's thirty."

 

"I don't think I ought to take it," said Jack. "It's my loss."

 

"Take it, my boy. It won't ruin me. I've got plenty more behind."

 

"Thank you, sir; I'll go and buy some more papers."

 

"Not to-night. I want you to take a cruise with me."

 

"All right, sir."

 

"I suppose you'd like to know who I am?" said the sailor, as they moved off together.

 

"I suppose you're a sailor."

 

"You can tell that by the cut of my jib. Yes, my lad, I'm captain of the _Argo_, now in port. It's a good while since I've been in York. For ten years I've been plying¹⁷ between Liverpool and Calcutta. Now I've got absence to come over here."

 

"Are you an American, sir?"

 

"Yes; I was raised in Connecticut, but then I began going to sea when I was only thirteen. I only arrived to-day, and I find the city changed since ten years ago, when I used to know it."

 

"Where are you staying--at what hotel?"

 

"I haven't gone to any yet; I used to stay with a cousin of mine, but he's moved. Do you know any good boarding place, where they'd make me feel at home, and let me smoke a pipe after dinner?"

 

An idea struck Jack. They had an extra room at home, or could make one by his sleeping in the sitting room. Why shouldn't they take the stranger to board? The money would certainly be acceptable. He determined¹⁸ to propose it.

 

"If we lived in a nicer house," he said, "I'd ask you to board at my mother's."

 

"Would she take me, my lad?"

 

"I think she would; but we are poor, and live in a small house."

 

"That makes no odds¹⁹. I ain't a bit particular, as long as I can feel at home. So heave ahead, my lad, and we'll go and see this mother of yours, and hear what she has to say about it."

 

Jack took the way home well pleased, and, opening the front door, entered the sitting room, followed by the sailor.

 

Aunt Rachel looked up nervously²⁰, and exclaimed: "A man!"

 

"Yes, ma'am," said the stranger. "I'm a man, and no mistake. Are you this lad's mother?"

 

"No, sir!" answered Rachel, emphatically. "I am nobody's mother."

 

"Oh, an old maid!" said the sailor, whose mode of life had made him unceremonious.

 

"I am a spinster," said Rachel, with dignity.

 

"That's the same thing," said the visitor, sitting down opposite Aunt Rachel, who eyed him suspiciously.

 

"My aunt, Rachel Harding, Capt. Bowling²¹," introduced Jack. "Aunt Rachel, Capt. Bowling is the commander of a vessel²² now in port."

 

Aunt Rachel made a stiff courtesy, and Capt. Bowling eyed her curiously²³.

 

"Are you fond of knitting, ma'am?" he asked.

 

"I am not fond of anything," said Rachel, mournfully. "We should not set our affections upon earthly things."

 

"You wouldn't say that if you had a beau, ma'am," said Capt. Bowling, facetiously²⁴.

 

"A beau!" repeated Rachel, horror-stricken.

 

"Yes, ma'am. I suppose you've had a beau some time or other."

 

"I don't think it proper to talk on such a subject to a stranger," said Aunt Rachel, primly²⁵.

 

"Law, ma'am, you needn't be so particular."

 

Just at this moment, Mrs. Harding entered the room, and was introduced to Capt. Bowling by Jack. The captain proceeded to business at once.

 

"Your son, here, ma'am, told me you might maybe swing a hammock for me somewhere in your house. I liked his looks, and here I am."

 

"Do you think you would be satisfied with our plain fare, and humble²⁶ dwelling²⁷, Capt. Bowling?"

 

"I ain't hard to suit, ma'am; so, if you can take me, I'll stay."

 

His manner was frank, although rough; and Mrs. Harding cheerfully consented to do so. It was agreed that Bowling should pay five dollars a week for the three or four weeks he expected to stay.

 

"I'll be back in an hour," said the new boarder. "I've got a little business to attend to before supper."

 

When he had gone out, Aunt Rachel began to cough ominously²⁸. Evidently some remonstrance²⁹ was coming.

 

"Martha," she said, solemnly, "I'm afraid you've done wrong in taking that sailor man."

 

"Why, Rachel?"

 

"He's a strange man."

 

"I don't see anything strange about him," said Jack.

 

"He spoke to me about having a beau," said Aunt Rachel, in a shocked tone.

 

Jack burst into a fit of hearty laughter. "Perhaps he's going to make you an offer, Aunt Rachel," he said. "He wants to see if there's anybody in the way."

 

Rachel did not appear so very indignant.

 

"It was improper³⁰ for a stranger to speak to me on that subject," she said, mildly.

 

"You must make allowances for the bluntness of a sailor," said Mrs. Harding.

 

For some reason Rachel did not seem as low-spirited as usual that evening. Capt. Bowling entertained them with narratives³¹ of his personal adventures, and it was later than usual when the lamps were put out, and they were all in bed. 

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

3 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

4 scowling   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• There she was, grey-suited, sweet-faced, demure, but scowling. 她就在那里，穿着灰色的衣服，漂亮的脸上显得严肃而忧郁。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Scowling, Chueh-hui bit his lips. 他马上把眉毛竖起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

5 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 incensed   

盛怒的

参考例句：

• The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
• They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

8 butted   

对接的

参考例句：

• Two goats butted each other. 两只山羊用角顶架。
• He butted against a tree in the dark. 他黑暗中撞上了一棵树。

9 gasping   

adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词

参考例句：

• He was gasping for breath. 他在喘气。
• "Did you need a drink?""Yes, I'm gasping!” “你要喝点什么吗？”“我巴不得能喝点！”

10 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

11 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

13 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

14 fracas   

n.打架；吵闹

参考例句：

• A couple of mobsters were rubbed out in a fracas with the law.几个暴徒在与警方喧闹的斗争中丧命。
• The police were called in to stop the fracas.警察奉命去制止骚乱。

15 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

16 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 plying   

v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. 形形色色的沿街小贩都在做着自己的买卖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was rather Mrs. Wang who led the conversation, plying Miss Liu with questions. 倒是汪太太谈锋甚健，向刘小姐问长问短。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

18 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

19 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

20 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

21 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？

22 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

23 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

24 facetiously   

adv.爱开玩笑地；滑稽地，爱开玩笑地

参考例句：

• The house had been facetiously named by some waggish officer. 这房子是由某个机智幽默的军官命名的。 来自辞典例句
• I sometimes facetiously place the cause of it all to Charley Furuseth's credit. 我有时候也曾将起因全部可笑地推在却利？福罗萨的身上。 来自辞典例句

25 primly   

adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地

参考例句：

• He didn't reply, but just smiled primly. 他没回答，只是拘谨地笑了笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He wore prim suits with neckties set primly against the collar buttons of his white shirts. 他穿着整洁的外套，领结紧贴着白色衬衫领口的钮扣。 来自互联网

26 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

27 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

28 ominously   

adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地

参考例句：

• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mammy shook her head ominously. 嬷嬷不祥地摇着头。 来自飘（部分）

29 remonstrance   

n抗议，抱怨

参考例句：

• She had abandoned all attempts at remonstrance with Thomas.她已经放弃了一切劝戒托马斯的尝试。
• Mrs. Peniston was at the moment inaccessible to remonstrance.目前彭尼斯顿太太没功夫听她告状。

30 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

31 narratives   

记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分

参考例句：

• Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives, is still a great beginning. 结婚一向是许多小说的终点，然而也是一个伟大的开始。
• This is one of the narratives that children are fond of. 这是孩子们喜欢的故事之一。